On Monday, I was on a conference call with friends and colleagues in the aid and peace-building community. The mood was sombre as we contemplated the results of US President Donald Trump’s order to freeze nearly all American foreign aid for 90 days. Although Secretary of State Marco Rubio swiftly followed up by saying that “life-saving humanitarian assistance” could continue, the original announcement had already affected huge numbers of people.
In Khartoum, Sudan, the US was the biggest donor for the soup kitchens that were feeding more than 800,000 people. Last Friday, it was reported that 434 of the 634 kitchens run by volunteers had shut down. Hospitals in camps on the Thai border, where about 100,000 refugees from Myanmar live, closed their doors. Malaria programmes in Uganda and Bangladesh have been affected, with key staff laid off. Aids clinics in South Africa have had to suspend their work. The Middle East has been affected, too, as this paper reported on Tuesday.
But there’s another kind of US foreign aid, as White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt outlined on Monday. Citing “$70,000 for the production of a DEI musical in Ireland”, $47,000 on a “transgender opera” in Colombia and $32,000 for a “transgender comic book” in Peru, she said: “I don’t know about you, but as an American taxpayer, I don’t want my dollars going towards this [sic] and I know the American people don’t either.” Cutting these programmes, she said, is exactly what Elon Musk, director of the US Department of Government Efficiency, “has been tasked by President Trump to do”.
It doesn’t matter what you think about DEI – or Diversity, Equity and Inclusion – as a policy, and the opera in Colombia may quite possibly be a masterpiece, Ms Leavitt knows her audience. They most certainly will be thinking: “We’re funding that?” What cannot be denied, as well, is that such projects are neither neutral nor indisputably beneficial. They are fundamentally political.
This links to a third category of US foreign aid. The agency has long been accused of interfering in the internal political affairs of a number of countries, and Mr Trump appears to agree. The first paragraph of his executive order reads: “The United States foreign aid industry and bureaucracy are not aligned with American interests and in many cases antithetical to American values. They serve to destabilise world peace by promoting ideas in foreign countries that are directly inverse to harmonious and stable relations internal to and among countries.”
Critics from the anti-colonialist left and the Global South might not use quite the same words. But they have complained for decades that US-funded projects – nominally to promote a specific type of governance, human rights and so-called independent media – are often highly partisan attempts to undermine governments and promote politicians of whom the American foreign policy establishment approves.
The trouble is that all three categories can end up being lumped together, and the fact that USAID provided 42 per cent of all humanitarian aid tracked by the UN last year – for which the world should be very thankful – can be overlooked by those irritated by what they see as never-ending American meddling, if not downright coercion.
So here’s a suggestion for Mr Trump, Mr Musk and Mr Rubio. Let the review of US foreign aid proceed, and identify the core humanitarian work. Cut anything and everything that’s even slightly political. Drop the controversial. Focus the $70 billion that the US so generously spends annually on international aid on the work everyone can agree on. Eradicating diseases. Feeding desperate people. Strengthening education and health services. Supporting women and girls. Building peace and enabling dialogue. Monitoring elections when invited to be an objective observer.
Think about the kind of work the Carter Centre does. Does anyone, anywhere object to that?
This would fit with the “Maga” view that the rest of the world’s politics is not their issue, and Mr Trump’s words in his speech at the 2017 Riyadh summit that I’ve quoted before: “America will not seek to impose our way of life on others,” he said. “We are not here to lecture – we are not here to tell other people how to live, what to do, who to be, or how to worship.”
Let the aid be straightforward, with no strings attached. If anyone in the Trump administration needs a reason to spend those billions without a quid pro quo, well, many if not most leading Republicans see themselves as godly people, and all the Abrahamic religions would approve of such charity. And in any case, wouldn’t unfettered US aid – with no lecturing, moralising, or conditions – actually improve America’s standing in a lot of countries?
A kind of template for this springs to mind. Many years ago, I went to Kenya for a reporting trip supported by a Christian charity. Their workers, some of whom were priests, never talked about their faith, however, to forestall any accusations that they were really there to proselytise. They did concede that a phenomenon called “unavoidable witness” could occur. Someone might see the work they were doing – in this case, in education about HIV and reducing the stigma for the infected – then become interested in what motivated them, and thus their religion. But the charity’s mission explicitly ruled out demanding that “people hear any religious message or convert to Christianity before, during or after receiving assistance”.
If US foreign aid was repurposed to the purely charitable and humanitarian, “unavoidable witness” would surely be inevitable. No one could see what is still the world’s mightiest country selflessly donating such large sums of money, while expecting nothing in return, and not be impressed.
Perhaps it’s too much to hope for. But if Mr Trump wants to make America great again, not just in the eyes of his fellow citizens, but in the hearts of the rest of the world, it would be a magnificent start.
The five pillars of Islam
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
India squad
Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, K.L. Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Rishabh Pant, Shivam Dube, Kedar Jadhav, Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Deepak Chahar, Mohammed Shami, Shardul Thakur.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Remaining Fixtures
Wednesday: West Indies v Scotland
Thursday: UAE v Zimbabwe
Friday: Afghanistan v Ireland
Sunday: Final
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
The years Ramadan fell in May
ENGLAND SQUAD
Team: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Anthony Watson, 13 Ben Te'o, 12 Owen Farrell, 11 Jonny May, 10 George Ford, 9 Ben Youngs, 1 Mako Vunipola, 2 Dylan Hartley, 3 Dan Cole, 4 Joe Launchbury, 5 Maro Itoje, 6 Courtney Lawes, 7 Chris Robshaw, 8 Sam Simmonds
Replacements 16 Jamie George, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Harry Williams, 19 George Kruis, 20 Sam Underhill, 21 Danny Care, 22 Jonathan Joseph, 23 Jack Nowell
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.0-litre, twin-turbocharged W12
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 626bhp
Torque: 900Nm
Price: Dh1,050,000
On sale: now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
more from Janine di Giovanni
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The years Ramadan fell in May
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
if you go
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct to Kolkata from Dh1,504 and Dh1,450 return including taxes, respectively. The flight takes four hours 30 minutes outbound and 5 hours 30 minute returning.
The trains
Numerous trains link Kolkata and Murshidabad but the daily early morning Hazarduari Express (3’ 52”) is the fastest and most convenient; this service also stops in Plassey. The return train departs Murshidabad late afternoon. Though just about feasible as a day trip, staying overnight is recommended.
The hotels
Mursidabad’s hotels are less than modest but Berhampore, 11km south, offers more accommodation and facilities (and the Hazarduari Express also pauses here). Try Hotel The Fame, with an array of rooms from doubles at Rs1,596/Dh90 to a ‘grand presidential suite’ at Rs7,854/Dh443.
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
Results
5.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,400m
Winner Spirit Of Light, Clement Lecoeuvre (jockey), Erwan Charpy (trainer)
6.05pm Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Dirt) 1,900m
Winner Bright Start, Pat Cosgrave, Saeed bin Suroor
6.40pm Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (D) 2,000m
Winner Twelfthofneverland, Nathan Crosse, Satish Seemar
7.15pm Handicap (TB) Dh85,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner Imperial Empire, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
7.50pm Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (T) 2,000m
Winner Record Man, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
8.25pm Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (D) 1,600m
Winner Celtic Prince, Fabrice Veron, Rashed Bouresly
Company%C2%A0profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ELeap%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMarch%202021%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ziad%20Toqan%20and%20Jamil%20Khammu%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPre-seed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20raised%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Undisclosed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeven%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
THE BIO:
Sabri Razouk, 74
Athlete and fitness trainer
Married, father of six
Favourite exercise: Bench press
Must-eat weekly meal: Steak with beans, carrots, broccoli, crust and corn
Power drink: A glass of yoghurt
Role model: Any good man
The five pillars of Islam
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
RESULT
Arsenal 0 Chelsea 3
Chelsea: Willian (40'), Batshuayi (42', 49')
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Nick's journey in numbers
Countries so far: 85
Flights: 149
Steps: 3.78 million
Calories: 220,000
Floors climbed: 2,000
Donations: GPB37,300
Prostate checks: 5
Blisters: 15
Bumps on the head: 2
Dog bites: 1
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
